Remodel, Reuse
When Sam and Louann Thornton decided to renovate their 10-year-old Lake Mary home in 2008, their goal was to create a healthy and energy-efficient environment for their two sons and for Sam’s mother, Anka, who was moving in with the family. In addition to using sustainable building materials such as bamboo, they were able to reuse 30 percent of the existing materials in the home, including cabinets, doors, flooring and landscaping pavers.
Sam buys and sells commercial aircraft, while Louann owns a homebuilding company in Montana. Both
are firm believers in reusing materials when possible. Louann Thornton says she hates waste and often uses wood from old barns or burned forests in the homes she builds. “Nothing was thrown away as a result of our renovation,” she emphasizes.
One of their goals was to update their existing home while adding 2,000 square feet of handicap-accessible space. Instead of purchasing new kitchen cabinets, their builder — Farina & Sons, Inc. — added legs to the lower cabinets to achieve the look of furniture. Similarly, they added crown molding to existing cabinetry in the family room, added a maple ceiling, and installed doors taken from other parts of the home. Within the master bathroom, the existing sinks sit on top of new bamboo cabinets, and recycled glass is embedded with LED lights in the shower. As part of the renovation, former bamboo flooring was used as trim pieces.
To make the home more energy-efficient, ceilings were insulated with foam; windows were fitted with “low-e” glass that insulates against heat and cold; and energy-efficient exterior doors were installed. High-efficiency air conditioners cool the home, and in the case of a power outage, a generator can power the home’s entire 6,800-square-foot space. However, the master suite is designed to function as a complete living area if needed, and it’s connected to its own air conditioner and water heater.
A commercial-grade, energy-saving electrical system runs throughout the home, allowing the owners to control all lighting from one location. Motion sensors control lighting, turning off or dimming lights when rooms are not in use. According to Louann Thornton, the family’s electric bill has not increased despite the extensive lighting within the expanded home.
When they built the home in 1998, the Thorntons did not touch the natural vegetation in the backyard, which reduces maintenance, costs and water usage. As part of the renovation, the yard was re-landscaped to encourage water to flow to dry areas. Recycled pavers lead to a new gazebo constructed of pest- and mildew-resistant bamboo.
“We were able to achieve the look and feel we wanted in our home, and reusing materials helped us save money we can use for other purposes,” says Louann Thornton. “I don’t understand why people throw out usable items and spend money when they don’t have to.”
